Sheet handling apparatus



Jan. 8, 1952 c. E. PARKER 2,581,599

SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR.

Jan. 8,1952 c. E. PARKER 2,581,599

SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVEN TOR.CZAEENC-f .6 ffleKi e Jan. 8, 1952 c. E.-PARKER 2,58 ,599

SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS F iled Dec. 10, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet s F 5INVENTOR. J /5. a es/Ye: .5 Fae/ 52 Jan. 8, 1952 c. E. PARKER 2,581,599

SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10. 1946 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 A S E r;F? f 1 1' l H- 170 I I I I :I 482 /l 157 I [m L [186 H I ll 1 g: I J;

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INVEN TOR.

' Cmezwcz E Pam 5e H5. 7 BY A Jan. 8, 1952 c. E. PARKER SHEET HANDLINGAPPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 10, 1946 7 Jan. 8, 1952 c. E!PARKER 2,581,599

SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Fil ed Dec. 10, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.CZAeE/YCE 5 FQEKEE B Y Fl; 74 z m a 1952 c. E. PARK-ER 2,581,599

SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1946 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.CZHEENCE E fine/(5e v I BY I M, i W m Patented Jan. 8, 1952 SHEETHANDLING APPARATUS Clarence E. Parker, Painesville, Ohio, assignor toThe Coe Manufacturin Ohio, a corporation of g Company, Painesville, OhioApplication December 10, 1946, Serial No. 715,166 7 Claims. (01. 198-20)The present invention relates to apparatus for handling relatively largesheets of fairly rigid material, such as, plasterboards and the like,and the present application, with the exception of the alternativeconstruction shown in Fig. 5, is a division of my copendingapplicationSerial No. 566,060, filed December 1, 1944.

Plasterboard is usually manufactured in long lengths on plasterboardmachines and while still wet cut into smaller sizes, after which thesheets are fed into a multiple deck drier, etc.. for further processing.Other kinds of relatively large sheets of fairly rigid material areoften manufactured or handled by equipment, including multiple deckapparatus. Operations subsequent to those performed by multiple deckequipment often require that the material in one deck be moved ordelivered in tandem relationship with respect to the material of anotherdeck.

Heretofore plasterboards and the like have been unloaded from multipledeck driers or other apparatus by hand. This method of unloadingmultiple deck apparatus by hand involves considerable labor and is quiteexpensive, and the principal object of the present invention is theprovision of a novel and improved automatic apparatus for unloadingplasterboard or the like from a multiple deck drier or other multipledeck apparatus and delivering the same in a predetermined manner at adesired location.

The invention resides in certain constructions and combinations andarrangements of parts and further objects and advantages of theinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which theinvention relates from the following description of the preferredembodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings forminga part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of plasterboard handling or unloading apparatusembodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the drive section of the apparatusshown in Fig. 1, with portions broken away or omitted for clearness;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view approximately on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3,with portions broken away for clearness;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig.4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan View of the discharge table and transfersection of the apparai tus shown in Figs. 1 and 2:

2 Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6,with portions broken away or omitted for clearness;

Fig. 8 is an end view of the apparatus shown 'in Figs. 6 and 7;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view of part of the mechanism shown in Figs. 11and 12;

Fig.1; is a wiring diagram of the electrical control circuits of theapparatus; and

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing an alternativeconstruction.

Although the present invention is applicable to the manufacture ofvarious articles, it is especially useful in the manufacture ofplasterboard and is herein shown as embodied in an apparatus forunloading multiple deck equipment used in manufacturing plasterboardand, more specifically, in apparatus for unloading a multiple deckplasterboard drier.

Generally speaking, the apparatus shown comprises unloading apparatusconsisting of the drive section A and the conveying section B adapted toreceive plasterboard from a multiple deck apparatus and deliver it insequence to transfer apparatus comprising a combination discharge tableand transfer section C adapted to receive plasterboard delivered theretoby the unloading apparatus and transfer the same to a desired location.In the embodiment shown, the boards are transferred to a taping machinewhere they are prepared for further handling. During their transfer tothe taping machine, alternate boards are turned to bring the finishedsurfaces face to face. It is to be understood, however, that theunloading apparatus may be used separately or in combination withapparatus other than that shown, if desired.

While plasterboards may be manufactured in any suitable width or length,they are usually manufactured in 24", 30", 36", 42" and 48' Widths andin lengths of 6', 8', 10, and 12. Two or more plasterboards are usuallycaused to move simultaneously side by side through the various decks ofthe apparatus and this is the fact with regard to the apparatus shown.In the present instance the plasterboards are delivered to the drivesection A of the unloading apparatus proper from a continuous drier, notshown, but which it enter the various decks at about two foot intervalsbeginning with the top deck.

The drive section A comprises a plurality of decks, one for each of thedecks of the drier and gravity roll section D. The decks of the drivesection A and the conveying section B are, in

efiect, continuations of the decks of the gravity roll section D and areherein referred to as a, b, c, d, e and f commencing at the top of theapparatus. The decks are all duplicates and on the drawings thecorresponding parts of the respective decks are indicated by the samereference character with the appropriate deck letter affixed thereto. g

Each deck comprises five bottom rolls "1,1 I, l2, l3, and 14, theopposite ends of which are rotatably supported by anti-friction bearingscontained in brackets bolted to the upstanding flanges of angle irons l6located at opposite sides of the drive section and extendinlongitudinally of the path of movement of material through the same. Theangle irons l5 constitute a part of the frame of the device and areconnected at their opposite ends to corner posts in the'form of I-beamsl1, I8, 20, 2|, which corner posts also are a part of the frame. Inaddition to the bottom rolls referred to, each deck comprises a top roll22 rotatably supported by anti-friction bearings in bearing brackets 23connected to the angle irons 16 of the deck immediately above. In thecase of the top deck, the bearing brackets 23 for the top rolls 22 areconnected to the left-hand end of the side top angle iron 24 of theframe of the conveying section B. The top roll 22 cooperates with thebottom roll I4 to form a set of pinch rolls.

The rolls of the respective decks are adapted to be intermittentlydriven from the electric motor 25, see Figs. 1 and 2, fixed to the topof the frame of the drive section and connected to a variable speedtransmission 25 by a sprocket chain drive 2?. The driving shaftof thevariable speed transmission is connected by a sprocket chain drive to ashort shaft 3! rotatably sup- I ported in bearing brackets 32 fixed tothe top of the frame of the drive section and which shaft is,

in turn, connected to the driven element 33 of a friction clutch 34 by asprocket chain drive 35. The driven member 33 of the friction clutch 34is rotatably supported by a bearing 36 which prevents endwise movementthereof and a horizontal shaft 31, upon which shaft the other element 38of the clutch is slidably keyed. The bearings 36 are connected to avertically extending angle iron 40 bolted to the top and bottomlongitudinal frame members 4i and 42. The outer ends of the shafts 3!are rotatably supported in bearing brackets 43 bolted or otherwisesecured to a vertically extending angle iron 44 forming a part of theframe, the opposite ends of which angle iron are connected tothelongitudinal frame members 4!, 42 by transversely extending angle irons46, 4? and triahgularly-shaped plates 50, 5! located adjacent to the topand bottom of the frame, respectively.

The clutches 34 are actuated in a manner hereinafter specificallydescribed to selectively rotate the shafts 31 and, in turn, drive therolls of the respective decks. The shafts 31 are connected by sprocketchain drives 52 to the rolls l4 of the respective decks driven thereby.Each of the rolls I4 is, in turn, connected by a sprocket chain drive 53to the rolls H), ll, [2 and I3 and to a short shaft 54 rotatablysupported in a bearing bracket 55 connected to the angle iron 16 of thedeck immediately above. In the case of the top deck, the bearing bracket55 is connected to the left-hand end of the angle iron 24 of theconveying section. The upper reaches of the sprocket chains of thedrives 53. engage sprocket wheels 56, 51, 58, 59 and so connected to therolls H), H, l2, I3 and [4, respectively, by one-way driving clutches,designated generally as 6 I, and which may be of any commercial designso long as they permit the rolls associated therewith to overrun in aclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3. In addition to engaging thesprocket wheels 56 to 60, the upper reaches of the sprocket chains of,

the sprocket chain drives 53 mesh with sprocket wheels 62 fixed to theouter ends of the shafts 54 and the lower reaches of the chains passabout idler sprockets 63, rotatably supported by the angle irons l6intermediate the sprockets 56, '51, and 59, 62, respectively. .The toprolls 22 are driven from, the shafts 54 by sprocket chain drives 64.

The driven members 33 of the clutches 34 are continuously connected tothe driven member 33 of the clutch 34 of the deck immediately below by asprocket chain drive 65, the driven sprocket 6B of which is fixed to andforms a part of the driven member 33 of the clutch for the deck above.The successive decks are driven by the drives 65 and the extra sprocketon the member 33 of the lowerdeck is connected by a sprocket chain drive61' to a transversely extending shaft 68 of the conveying section.

Without further description, it will be apparent that when the motor 25is operating, all of the driven elements of the friction clutches forthe various decks and the shaft 68 of the conveying section B will becontinuously driven and that the rollers of the various decks can beselectively rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 2 and3, by engaging the friction clutches selectively. As shown, the frictionclutches 34 are adapted to be selectively engaged and disengaged bydouble-acting 'fluid pressure motors ID, the piston rods ll of which areconnected to the left-,

hand ends of levers I2 pivotally connected to.

members 13 welded to the vertical angle iron 44 of the frame of themachine. The fluid pressure motors 18 are carried by a vertical channel14 connected to the longitudinal frame members 4| 42. The motors H3 areair-operated and the admission and exit of air to the opposite sides ofthe pitmans are controlled by pairs of solenoid-j ported in the angleirons [5 of the deck immediately above, or, in the case of the top deck,in

the left-hand end of the angle iron 24 of the conveying section. Therear ends of the shafts BI-are supported in a similar manner. The shafts81 are. provided with a plurality of downwardly extending arms 36, thelower ends of which are adapted to project into the path of plasterboardmoving through the deck immediately below.

As a plasterboard is delivered to one of the decks of the drive sectionfrom the gravity roll section D, it will coast down the rolls Ill, II,I2 and I3 until the front end engages the pinch rolls I4, 22, whichpinch rolls are normally stationary at the time. Immediately prior toengaging the pinch rolls I4, 22, the front end of the plasterboardengages one of the arms 88 and rotates the shaft 8! to close thenormally open contacts of" the switch 83. Whether or not the frictionclutch- 34 of the particular deck referred to operates upon the closingof the normally open contacts of the switch 83, depends upon whether ornot a plasterboard previously discharged from the drive section A hasreached a predetermined po sition, as will be hereinafter morespecifically pointed out. Assuming that the closing of the switch 83connects the solenoids TI, 18 with a source of electric current, thefluid pressure motor I will be actuated to engage the friction clutch 34and rotate the rolls of the deck in a direction to move the plasterboardforwardly and feed the same into the conveying section B. The speed atwhich the rolls of the drive section are driven is preferably such thatthe plasterboards are discharged from the drive section at a speed whichis at leastas many times greater than the speed at which they aredelivered to the drive section as there are decks. This variation inspeed permits the plasterboards which are fed to the various decks ofthe drive section more or less continuously to be delivered successivelyat a predetermined point and at predetermined intervals.

The conveying section B of the delivery apparatus comprises an endlessbelt or, more specifically, a plurality of endless belts 9G encirclingpulleys 9| fixed to the shaft 68 located at the lefthand lower corner ofthe conveying section and similar pulleys 92 carried by a shaft 93located at the opposite end of the conveying section. The

shafts 68 and. G3 are rotatably supported in suitable bearing brackets94, 95, respectively, connected to opposite ends of the frame of theconveying section. The right-hand shaft 93 is raised above the level ofthe left-hand shaft 6?, withthe resultthat the upper reach of the beltsBil is inclined upwardly. The shaft 68 is driven in such a manner thatthe pulleys SI carried thereby rotate in a clockwise direction, asviewed in Figs. 2 and 3, with the result that when a plasterboard isdischarged upon the belts 98. it moves in an upward direction andtowards the right.

.In the embodiment shown, the right-hand end of the frame of theconveying section is supported upon the left-hand end of the combinationdis-' charge table and transfer section C. It is to be understood,however, that other means may be provided for supporting the right-handend of the conveying section and that the belts 9% may discharge theplasterboards on any suitable device other than the discharge tableshown, such as, a different type of discharge table, en anotherconveyor, etc. The upper reaches of the beltsfii'i are supported byidler rolls I00, IIH, I02, H23, H14 and IE extending underneath thebelts and rotatably supported by bearing brackets connected to the sidebottom angle I61 of the frame of the conveying section. The lower reachof the IJU 6v belt is supported by idler rolls III), III locatedunderneath the belt and rotatably supported bybearing brackets connectedto the side bottom angle iron I01.

' The conveying section includes a plurality of decks formed by idlefree running rolls i I3, which decks extend. between the decks of thedrive section and the continuous conveyor formed by the endless belts90. The decks of the conveying section are, in effect, continuaticns ofthe decks of the drive section and in view of the fact that thecontinuous conveyor formed by the belts is inclined upwardly, the decksof the conveying section terminate at different points along the belts90. In fact, the lower deck discharges directly upon the belts 90. Theidle free running rolls II3 are rotatably supported by hearing bracketsH4 connected to longitudinally extending angle irons II5 bolted orotherwise fixed to the vertical channels H6 of the frame of theconveying section, which channels are, in turn, connected to the upperand lower side angle irons 24 and I01, respectively.

As shown, the top roll 22a and the shaft 54a,

etc., are connected 'to an extension of the top As previously suggested,the rolls of the respec-- tive decks of the drive section areselectively driven, with the result that the plasterboards being handledare discharged in sequence from the drive section. This is accomplishedby so constructing and interlocking the control circuits for thesolenoids Ti and 18 of the respective decks.

see wiring diagram, that when one of the switches 83 has been actuatedand the solenoid associated therewith energized, a holding ormaintaining" circuit is established by the normally open bottom contactsof the relay 8| associated therewith which maintains the relay energizeduntil the plasterboard discharged from the section reachesapredeterrnined position. As shown, the hold-- ing circuit is broken bythe opening of a normally closed set of contacts of a time delay relayI2I, the operating solenoid 522 of which is connected in series with apair of series connectednormally open switches I23, I2 carried by anangle iron I25 located at the righthand end of the combination dischargetable and transfer section C. The operating arms of the switches I23,I24 are extended to the left of the angle iron where they are adapted tobe engaged by plasterboards reaching the end of the combinationdischarge table and transfer section, with the result that the holdingcircuit is maintained and the following deck of the drive sectionretained in the drive section until the plasterboards previouslydischarged reach the end of the table.

The various rolls of the drive and conveyor section shown are eight feetand eight inches long, from which it follows that the apparatuscanhandle in each deck simultaneously either two plasterboards 36" or 48"wide; three plasterboards 32 wide; or, four plasterboards 24" To thiswide, see Fig. 8, Where the plasterboards are shown in dot-dash lines.Only two series connected switches I23, I24 are employed in the presentinstance because two switches have been found adequate regardless of thenumber of rows of plasterboard going through the machine. Obviously oneor more switches may be employed, as desired. In the event that one ormore of the boards stop short of the switches I23, I24, a manuallyoperated switch I26 in parallel circuit therewith provides means forenergizing the operating solenoid I22 of the time delay relay andyinturn, opening the normally closed contacts thereof; Alternatively, thetime delay relay I2I which is used in the present instance for a purposewhich will be hereinafter referred to may be omitted and a normallyclosed switch substituted for the contacts I20 of the time delay relay,which switch may be placed at any desired point in the path of theplasterboards, as at the end f the endless conveyor 90.

While it is to be understood that the unloading apparatus comprising thedrive and conveying sections described above may be used with any typeof discharge table or the like, the'conveying section preferablydischarges the plasterboards upon the combinationdischarge table andtransfer section shown, which is especially designed to transfer theplasterboards to a taping machine and turn alternate boards, Thecombination discharge table and transfer section C shown comprises twohorizontal rows of split rolls I30 onto which the plasterboards aredischarged by the conveyor belts 90 and along which they coast untilthey engage the angle iron I25 or the operatinglevers for the switchesI23, I24. The rolls I 30 are split in the manner shown in the drawingsso that they will better handle differentsize boards. Obviously anyother suitable roll arrangement may be employed.

i In operation, one or more of the boards upon the table C may beleading other boards thereon, in which event it is possible that all ofthe boards would not reach or substantially reach the righthand end ofthe discharge table if the rolls were not split because the rollsengaged by the first board to reach the angle iron I25 would immedi-'ately stop rotating when the board stopped moving. With the split rollconstruction shown, the fact that one of the plasterboards is ahead ofothers will not ordinarily prevent the latter from continuing itsforward movement after the first board has stopped because theprobabilities are that the other board will be resting upon other rollsor other sections of the same roll.

The rolls I30 are rotatably supported by suitable bearing brackets I32connected to .the longitudinally extending angle irons I33 to I36,inclusive, supported upon the upper flanges of transversly extendingI-beams I31, I38, I39 located adjacent to the center and opposite endsof the'table and which I-beams are, in turn, supported on longitudinallyextending front and rear I-beams I45, I46 carried by a plurality of legsI41, I43 located adjacent to the front and rearof the table,respectively.

The opposite ends of the' angle iron I25, see

Figs. 9 and 10, are connected to and carried by members I55 pivotallyconnected by pins I52 to Whenthe latch pin I53 is removed, the membersI50 and the angle iron I25 are free to rotate about the pins I52 untilthe members I50 engage stops I54 on the angle irons I33, I36. In thisposition, the angle iron I25 is below the horizontal plane of the top ofthe rolls I30 and the plasterboards delivered onto the table are allowedto discharge off the right-hand end of the device.

The stop I54 on the near or operators side of the machine is in the formof a normally closed switch, the operating lever of which is actuated toopen the contacts thereof by the member I50 when moved to the positionshown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 10. The purpose of the switch I54 willbe hereinafter referred to.

' As the plasterboards are discharged over the ribht-hand end of thedevice, the switches I23, I24 are actuated thereby to energize the relayI 2I and break the holding circuit for the relay 8I so that a succeedingdeck will be discharged. It will be noted that the actuating arms forthe switches I23, I24 are only slightly below the horizontal plane ofthe upper surface of the rolls I30 and are, therefore, in a position tobe engaged by the plasterboards as they tilt slightly when leaving therolls.

With the angle iron I25 in the position shown in dot-dash lines in Fig.10, the combination discharge and transfer section C thus far describedis merely a discharge table upon which the plasterboards areautomatically delivered in a predetermined sequence by the deliveryapparatus comprising the drive section A and the conveying section B. Asthe plasterboards are discharged from the right-hand end of the table,they may be removed by hand or in any desired manner, as by suitableconveying mechanism or the like. Alternatively the material may bedelivered. to any suitable apparatus, such as, a one deck lath orplasterboard breaker similar to the lath breaker disclosed and claimedin my issued Patent No. 2,311,995.

In addition to the transversely extending split rolls previouslydescribed, the combination discharge and transfer table comprises aplurality of transveresly extending endless belts I10 encircling pulleysI1I, I12 fixed to longitudinally extending shafts I13, I14 located atopposite sides of the table and rotatably supported by suitable bearingbrackets I15, I16 connected to opposite ends of the transverselyextending I-beams I31, I38 and. I39. The shaft'I13 is adapted to beintermittently rotated by an electric motor I11 located underneath thetable and connected to a gear reduction 418 by a sprocket chain driveI80, which gear reduction is, in turn, connected to the shaft I13 by asprocket chain drive I8I. The center portions of the top reaches of thebelts I10 are adapted to be periodically raised to transferplasterboards resting upon the rollers I 30 transversely of the table bya plurality-of I-beams I82 extending longitudinally of the beltsdirectly beneath the top reach thereof. The I-beams I82 are supported onlongitudinally extending angle irons I83 connected to brackets I84,which brackets are, in turn, pivotally connected to horizontallyextending arms of hell crank levers I85 keyed to transversely extendingshafts I86 rotatably supported by bearing brackets I81 connected to thelongitudinally extending I-beams I45, I46.

Both shafts I86 are connected together so that they rotate in the samedirection and at the same time by rods I90 connected to the downwardlyprojecting arms of the bell crank levers I85. The shafts I86 and all ofthe bell crank levers are simultaneously rotated by a fluid pressureactuated motor IQI located underneath the table and connected to thelongitudinal I-beam I45 by suitable brackets, the piston rod of whichmotor is connected to the left-hand shaft 185 by a lever I92. Theconstruction is such that when pressure is admitted to the right-handend of the fluid pressure motor :91, the shafts I83 are rotated in aclockwise direction to raise the longitudinally extending angle ironsHi3 and, in turn, the transversely extending I-beams I32 underneath thetop reaches of the belts, thus raising the cross belts lid and anyboards restingupon the rolls I 36 until the boards are free of therolls.

The supply of fluid pressure to and from the motor I9I is controlled bya solenoid operated air valve, the solenoid I95 of which is connected inseries circuit with normally open contacts of a relay I96, the operatingsolenoid I91 of which relay is connected in parallel circuit with theoperating coil I22 of the time delay relay I2I, from which it followsthat simultaneously with the actuation of the time delay relay I2I tobreak the holding circuit for the relays 8| of the drive section A, thefluid pressure motor I9I will be actuated to raise the cross belts. Asthe cross belts are raised, a holding circuit for the operating solenoidI91 of relay I96 is established by the closing of the normally openlower contacts of said relay, which circuit maintains the solenoid I91energized even though one or both of the switches I23, I 24 open as aresult of the plasterboards being moved away from the same, or, as aresult of the push button switch I26 being released.

The circuit to the motor I11 which drives the cross belts is establishedsimultaneously with the energization of the solenoid I95 by the closingof the normally open intermediate contacts of relay I96, which contactsare connected in series circuit with the operating solenoid 252 of amotor controller 203 for the motor I11. The cross-belt motor I11 isstoppedby the opening of the normally closed switch 205 adapted to betemporarily opened by a lug, not shown, connected to the sprocket chainof the sprocket chain drive' l8! for the cross belts. The constructionis such that the movement of the cross belts is automatically stoppedwhen they have moved a suflicient distance to transfer the plasterboardsfrom above the rolls I30 of the discharge table to the pivoted arms 201projecting to the front or near side of the table, as viewed in Fig. 1.The motor I11 is'provided with a spring-engaged solenoid releasedmechanical brake, the solenoid 208 of which is connected in seriescircuit with an auxiliary set of normally open contacts on the motorcontroller 203, which contacts are closed simultaneously with theclosing of the main contacts of the motor controller so as to releasethe brake while the motor is operating.

The upper surface of the arms 201, of which there are six intheembodiment shown, are provided with a plurality of free running rolls2I0' over which the plasterboards coast or can be readily moved by anoperator to some suitable receiving apparatus, such as the tape machineE, where the edges of successive pairs of boards are taped together. Inview of the fact that it is desirable to turn alternate boards so thatfinished surfaces will be in contact with each other, provision is madefor dropping and again raising the arms 201 as alternate boards passthereover. For this purpose, the rear ends of the arms 201 are pivotallyconnected to the longitudinally extending haft I13 and each arm isconnected intermediate its ends by a pitman 2| I to an eccentric orcrank 2I2 on a longitudinally extending crankshaft 2I3 rotatablysupported in suitable bearing boxes 2I-I connected to the front legs I41of the table proper. The crankshaft 2I3 is adapted to be periodicallyrotated one revolution by an electric motor 2I6 located underneath thetable proper and operatively connected to the crankshaft 2 I 3 throughthe medium of a gear reduotion 2I1 and a sprocket chain drive 2I8.

The motor 2H5 is adapted to be started by the closing of a normally openelectric switch 220 connected to the right-hand arm 201, the operatinglever of which switch is actuated to close the circuit therethrough by acam 22I on a short shaft 222 rotatably supported by one of the arms 201and provided with a ratchet wheel 223 adapted to be periodicallyrotatedby a pawl 224 pivotally connected to an upwardly extending arm 225,which arm is, in turn, pivotally connected to the shaft 222. The upperend of the arm 225 projects into the path of movement of theplasterboard and is so constructed that it is rotated approximately 45as each plasterboard moves thereover. The arm 225 is continuously urgedto its normal upright position by a tension spring 225 connected theretoand to the arm 201. The cam 22I has four high points, from which itfollows that with the construction shown, it rotates one-eighth of arevolution as each board moves onto the arms 221 and since the cam hasfour high points, the circuit through the switch 220 is closed asalternate boards move onto the arms. The switch 222 is in series circuitwith the operating solenoid 221 for the motor controller 228 for themotor 2 I 6. After the switch 220 opens incident to the plasterboardbeing moved away from the same, the circuit to the operating solenoid221 of the motor controller 228 is maintained closed until thecrankshaft 2I3 makes a complete revolution by a normally open switch 230connected to one of the legs I41 of the table and adapted to bemaintained closed while the crankshaft 2I3 makes a complete revolutionby a cam 23I on the crankshaft, the periphery of which cam engages theactuating arm of the switch 230.

The free end of each or the projecting arms 25? is provided with amember 232 having a transversely extending groove 233 in the upper sidethereof, which member is fixed to a short lever 234 rotatably supportedin the end of the arm by a pin 235. The lever 234 is continuously urgedin a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 11, by a spring 237connected to the lower end thereof and to the arm 251. Movement of thelever 234 in a counterclockwise direction under the action of the spring231 is limited by a link 233 connected to the lower end of the lever andto the upper end ofa lever 24G pivotally connected to the arm 26?adjacent the shaft I13. The lever 249 normally assumes a substantiallyvertical position and its pivotal connections with the link 238 and thearm 2531 are located above and below the horizontal plane of the shaftI13 whereas the pivotal connection of the link 238 with the arm 234 isapproximately in said plane. The lever 248 is provided with a roller 24Iconnected thereto approximately midway between its ends, which roller isheld in continuous engagement with a cam member 242 by the spring 231.The cam member 242 is connected to the underside of the angle iron I33and the free end thereof which projects between the arm. lever sewsinitial movement of the arm 201 in a downward direction, the roller 24!rides up on a raised arcuately-shaped cam surface, with the result thatthe lever 234 is rotated in a clockwise direction to project the member232 into the path of the plasterboard, thus causing the lower end of theplasterboard to engage within the groove 233. When the arms 20! are attheir lowest position, the operator can easily swing the upper edge ofthe plasterboard forwardly and as the arms return to their horizontalposition, the board is delivered to the'taping machine with its oppositesideup.

When short boards are being handled by the transfer apparatus, it ispreferable to use only the arms 21]? which are engaged thereby and tomove the arms not being used to an inoperative position. In the machineshown, this is accomplished by disconnecting the pitmans 2H for the armsnot being employed from their eccentrics 212. Accordingly, the bearingcaps of the pitmans 2H for the three left-hand arms 201, as viewed inFigs. 6 and '7,'are held in position by wing nuts so that they can bereadily removed when desired. When the pitmans are disconnected from theeccentrics, the arms 20? associated therewith drop to a verticalposition and are out of the way of the operators, etc. As an alternativeconstruction the arms 20! may be normally held in a horizontal positionby spring means so adjusted that the weight of the plasterboards issufficient to cause the arms to drop down as the boards move thereon. Inthis event the boards which are not to be turned are caught by hand andmoved into the taping machine, etc.

The apparatus disclosed is especially designed for unloading acontinuous drier into which the plasterboards are fed by a tippleloader. The boards enter the drive section A in a predeterminedsequence, therefore, the switches 83 are actuated in sequence and thedecks of the drive section unloaded one after the other. If the deliveryapparatus is intended to be used with multiple deck apparatus whereinall or a plurality of the decks of the drive section are loadedsimultaneously, a cam-operated cycle switch driven in timed relation to,some suitable part of the machine, such as; the conveyor belts 98, maybe employed in place of the switches 83.

Referring to the drive section A of the unloading mechanism, as analternative construction, the driving mechanism for the rolls of thevarious decks, including the motor 25, the shafts 3?, the drivingmechanism therebetween, and the clutch operating mechanism may beomitted and the rolls of the various decks driven by individual electricmotors in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 15 wherein the drivingsprockets of the sprocket chain drives 52 are connected to the rotorshafts 250 of electric motors 25! mounted on a vertically extendingmember 252 connected to the upper and lower horizontal members 4!, 42.The wiring system remains the same except that the operating coils ofthe magnetic contactors for the respective motors are substituted forthe operating solenoids of the solenoid operated valves employed in theembodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 14. In the event that individual motorsare employed to drive the rolls of the various sections, as shown inFig. 15, the conveyor belt 90 of the conveying section B of theunloading mechanism is driven by a separate motor. As shown in Fig. 15,the driven sprocket of the sprocket drive 61 has been replaced by a 12gear wheel 253 connected to the rotor shaft of a motor 254 by a suitablepinion, which motor may be connected in the wiring circuit in place ofthe motor 25 of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1

Summary of operation In describing the operation of the apparatus,

it will be assumed that two rows of boards are traveling simultaneouslythrough each deck of the drier and gravity roll section and it will befurther assumed that the cycle of operations commences with the boardsentering the top deck of the drive section, hereinbefore referred to asdeck a. It is to be understood, however, that the cycle of operationsmay commence with any deck and progress either in an upward or downwarddirection. All of the electric motors employed are three-phasealternating current motors. When the start push button switch isdepressed, a:circuit is established energizing the operating solenoid244 of a motor controller, closing its normally open main contacts,which contacts connect the motor 25, or, in the embodiment shown in Fig.15, the motor 25!, to the power lines L-l, L-2 and L-3. A holdingcircuit is established forthe solenoid 244 by the closing of a pair ofauxiliary contacts simultaneously with the closing of the main contactsof the motor controller. A stop push button switch 246 connected inseries circuit with the start push button switch 243 may be depressed atany time to stop the motor. 7

As the first plasterboards to enter deck a approach the right-hand endof the drive section,.

the leading edge or edges thereof engage one or more of the arms 88acarried by the transversely extending shaft 81a to close the normallyopen switch 83a. When the switch 83a. is closed. it energizes theoperating solenoid 82a of relay Bla closing the normally open uppercontacts thereof and energizing the operating solenoids 11a, 18a of thesolenoid-operated valves 19a, 800. which control the fluid pressuremotor 10a, or, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 15, energizing theoperating solenoid of the magentic contactor for the motor 25Ia.Simultaneously with the closing of the. normally open contacts of relay81a, a holding circuit is established which maintains the operatingsolenoid of the relay' energized even though the switch 83a subsequentlyopens upon the boards in the deck a being discharged into the conveyingsection. Upon energization of the operating solenoids for the valves19a, 80a, to reverse the direction of flow of fluid pressure to themotor 10a, or, upon energizatlon of the operating solenoid for themagnetic controller for the motor 25la, the rolls of the deck a aredriven to deliver the plasterboards thereon to the conveying section B.At the same time that the rolls of deck a are caused to rotate,

' the switches 83b, 83c, 83d, 83eand 83f forthe other decks are renderedinoperative by the opening' of five normally closed contacts of relay8Ia, which contacts are in series circuit with the switches 83b to 83 f,inclusive. The fact that the switches 83b to 83f, inclusive, arerendered inoperative simultaneously with the driving of the rolls of thedeck a, prevents a second board being discharged by the drive section Ainto the con-' veying section B'until the holding circuit for the relay8la is broken by the boards reaching the end. of the discharge tableformed by the rolls and closing the normally open switches I23,

When the boards are discharged from decka oi the drive section A intodeck a of the conveying section B, they travel down the free runningrolls II3a to the belts 30 which carry them to the rolls I30 of thedischarge table, over which they coast to the end of the table and intoengagement with the switches I23, I24. The rolls I30 are split so thatin the event one board of the pair is trailing the other, its forwardmovement will not be stopped simultaneously with the forward movement ofthe leading board, thus permitting both boards to align themselves atthe end of the discharge table and close both switch sh I23, I24.

When both switches I23, I24 are closed, a

circuit is established energizing the operating solenoid I22 of a timedelay relay I2I, the normally closed contacts of which are in seriescircult with the holding circuit for all of the relays 8Ia to 8U,inclusive. The actuation of the time delay relay I 2I breaks the holdingcircuit for relay 8Ia, permitting the next deck to discharge into theconveying section. If for some reason bothswitches I23, I24 are notclosed by the boards moving through the apparatus, the operatingsolenoid I22 of the time delay relay I21 can be energized by the manualcontrol push button switch I26. The speed of the apparatus is preferablyso adjusted by means of the variable speed transmission 26 that the pairof boards discharged from deck a actuate the switches I23, I24 as theleading edges of the pair of boards in deck b reach the arms 08b; inother words, the boards are shot out of the drive section, so to speak,at such a speed that they travel to the end 01' the discharge tablewhile the boards in the drier, etc., are traveling a distance ofapproximately three-quarters of a foot. If the drive section A is timedor synchronized with the tipple loader in such a manner that the boardsare discharged from the drive section at the same rate at which they areloaded into the drier by the tipple loader, it will be apparent that theapparatus will work smoothly and continuously.

Simultaneously with the energization of the time delay relay I2I, whichrelay after an interval breaks the holding circuit for relay am topermit the delivery of a pair of boards in deck b of the drive section,the solenoid I91 of relay I96 is energized to close the normally opencontacts thereof, the closing of which establishes a holding circuit forthe relay and energizes the actuating solenoid I 95 of the solenoidcontrol valves for the air-operated hoist motor I9I. The holding circuitformed by the lower set of contacts of the relay maintains the operatingcoil I91 energized after the switches I23, I24 open or after the pushbutton switch I26 is released. The admission of air under pressure tothe hoist motor I9I upon energization of the operating solenoid I95,actuates the motor IOI to raise the upper reaches of the belts I10 andlift the plasterboards oil the rollers I30. Simultaneously the closingof the intermediate contacts of relay I96 energizes the operatingsolenoid 202 of motor controller 203 for the motor I11 which drives thebelts I10 and releases the solenoid released brake attached to the motorby the energization of the solenoid 208 thereof.

The motor I11 continues to Operate until the sprocket chain drive IBImakes a complete revo' lution, at which time a lug thereon actuates theswitch 205 to break the holding circuit for the relay I96 deenergizingthe motor controller 203',

disconnecting the motor I11, and deenergizing the solenoid 208, allowingthe brake for the motor to be applied. While the sprocket chain driveIllI is making its complete revolution, the belts I10 move a sufficientamount to transfer the boards from above the rolls I30 onto the arms201. As the first board moves onto the arm 201, operators at oppositeends of the transfer table slide the same from the arms onto the tapingmachine. As the second board moves onto the arms 201, the leading edgethereof actuates the lever 225 to close the switch 220 and energize theoperating solenoid 221 of the motor controller 22 0, the energization ofwhich starts the motor 210. The motor 2I6 rotates the crankshaft 213oscillating the arms 201, whereupon the second board is turned upsidedown as it is transferred to the taping machine. As the arms 20'! reachtheir lowest position, the operator or operators swing the upper edge ofthe board toward the taping machine and help to guide the board as thearms return to their upper position. When the crankshaft 2I3 has made acomplete revolution, the circuit to the solenoid 221 of the motorcontroller 228 is broken by the opening of a switch 230, the actuationof which switch is controlled by a cam 23I on the crankshaft 2 l 3.

Concurrently with the deenergization of the motor I11 which drives thebelts I70 incident to the opening of switch 205 which opens the holdingcircuit for relay 1%, the solenoid 2&3 is deener gized reversing thecontrol valve for the hoist motor I9I and allowing the upper reaches ofthe belts I10 to return to their normal position. At about the sametime, the second pair of boards is discharged from the drive section. Ainto'the conveying section B, which boards reach the discharge tableafter the belts I10 have returned to their normal position. The timeinterval between the closing of the normally open switches; I23, I24 andthe delivery of a second pair of boards into the conveying section iscontrolled by the time delay relay I2I, the normally closed contacts ofwhich do not open to break the holding circuit for the relay 8Ia untilafter a predetermined interval, which interval can be varied as desired.

The cycle of operations is the same with respect to all of the decks andwill continue so long as the apparatus is in operation and receivingboards from the gravity roll section D. As previously stated, theplasterboards delivered to the discharge table may be discharged overthe righthand end thereof rather than by way of the arms 201., etc., bymoving the angle iron to the dotdash-line position shown in Fig. 1 0.ln-this event, the boards do not stop on the rolls I30 but con tinuetheir movement and as they pass over the end of the discharge table theyactuate the switches I23, I24 to break the holding circuit for the relay8Ia and permit a second pair of boards to be discharged from the drivesection of the apparatus. When the switches 523, I20 are closed with theparts in the position shown in clot-dash lines in Fig. 10, the relay I36is prevented from operating by the open switch I54 in series circuitwith the operating solenoid I 91 of the relay. The fact that the relayI96 remains inoperative prevents the hoist motor I01 and the motor I11which drives the belts I10 from operating,

As previously stated, the delivery apparatus comprising the drivesection A and the conveying section B, can be used with Or without thecombination discharge and transfer section C and, in like manner, thecombination delivery and transfor section C can be used with other typesof delivery apparatus. Broadly speaking, the delivery apparatus is adevice for unloading a multiple deck apparatus and delivering thematerial handled at a predetermined location in a predeterminedsequence, and the combination discharge and transfer section is anapparatus for receiving material delivered thereto in a predeterminedsequence and transferring it to another position while turning alternatepieces of material.

From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it will be apparent that the objects heretofore enumeratedand others have accomplished and that there has been provided anautomatic delivery apparatus for unloading multiple deck devices. Whilethe pre ferred embodiments of the invention have been described withconsiderable detail, it is merely illustrative of the invention, and Ido not wish to be limited to the particuluar construction shown whichobviously may be varied in many respects within the scope of myinvention, and it is my intention to hereby cover all adaptations,modifications and uses thereof which come within the practice of thoseskilled in the art to which the invention relates and within the spiritand scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In equipment for unloading plasterboard and the like from a multipledeck device and delivering the same in predetermined relation at acommon location, the combination of a plurality of decks adapted to bealigned with the decks of the device to be unloaded and receive materialtherefrom, a discharge conveyor, conveying mechanism interposed betweensaid decks and said discharge conveyor, means comprising mechanismactuated by the presence of material in said decks for dischargingmaterial therein, means for preventing the actuation of said last namedmeans to discharge material from a second deck until material previouslydischarged from another deck has reached a predetermined position.

2. In equipment for unloading plasterboard and the like from a multipledeck device, the combination of a plurality of rolls forming a pluralityof decks adapted to be aligned with the decks of the device to beunloaded and receive material therefrom, a set of pinch rolls adjacentto the discharge end of each deck, meanscomprising an individualelectric motor for driving each set of pinch rolls to discharge materialfrom said decks, a driven conveyor extending from adjacent to the lowerset of said pinch rolls, conveying mechanism interposed between saiddecks and said driven conveyor, means including mechanisms actuated bythe presence of material in said decks for actuating said motors tocause said sets of pinch rolls to discharge material from said decks,and means for preventing the actuation of said last-mentioned meansafter actuation of one of said motors to discharge material from one ofsaid decks until the discharged material reaches a predeterminedposition.

3. In equipment for unloading plasterboard andthe like from a multipledeck device, the combina tion of a plurality of rolls forming aplurality "conveyor, said discharge table comprising pluralityof freerunning rolls adapted to receive set of pinch rolls to dischargematerial from one said decks until the discharged material reachesa'predetermined position.

4. In equipment for unloading plasterboard and the like'from a multipledeck device, thejcom- 'bination ofa plurality of roll 'forming aplurality of decks adapted to be aligned withfthe decks of the device tobe unloaded and receive material therefrom, a set of pinch rollsadjacent to the discharge end of each deck, means comprising individualclutches for driving the sets of pinch rolls to discharge material fromsaid decks, a discharge table, a driven conveyor ex: tending fromadjacent to the lower set of said pinch rolls to said discharge table, aplurality of free running rolls extending from adjacent to said sets ofpinch rolls other than said lower set of pinch rolls to said drivenconveyor, said discharge table comprising a plurality of free runningrolls adapted to receive" material discharged thereon by said drivenconveyor, means for actuating said clutches to cause said sets or pinchrolls to discharge material from said decks, and means for preventingoperation of said lastnamed means after actuation of one of saidclutches to discharge material from one or said decks until thedischarged material reaches a predetermined position. 5. In equipmentfor unloading plasterboard and the like from a multiple deck device, thecom-; bination of a plurality of rolls forming a plurality of decksadapted to be aligned with the decks of the device to be unloaded andreceive 7 material therefrom, a set of pinch rolls adjacent to thedischarge end of each deckfine'ans comprising an individual electricmotor for driv ing each set of pinch rolls to discharge material fromsaid decks, a discharge table, a driven conveyor extending from adjacentto the lower set of said pinch rolls to said discharge table, aplurality of free running rolls extending from adjacent to said sets ofpinch rolls other than'said lower set of pinch rolls to said drivenconveyor, said discharge table comprising a plurality of free runningrolls adapted to receive material discharged thereon by said drivenconveyor, means for actuating said motors to cause said sets of pinchrolls to discharge material from said decks, and means for preventingoperation or said last-named means after actuation of one of said motorsto discharge material from one of said decks until the dischargedmaterial reaches a predetermined position. t

6. In equipment for unloading plasterboard and the like from a' multipledeck device, the combination of apparatus comprising a plurality orreceiving decks adapted to be aligned with the decks of the device to beunloaded 'and receive material therefrom, conveyor means arranged to"receive material from said receiving decks, a power mechanism associatedwith each of said receiving decks and operative to remove material fromthe respective receiving decks to said conveyor means, control means foreach of said power mechanisms including a control member associated withthe receiving deck with which the power mechanism controlled thereby isassociated and adapted to be actuated by material received by thelast-mentioned deck, a power control device associated with each of saidcontrol means and operative in response to actuation of said controlmember of the respective control means to actuate the power mechanismand to render the power mechanisms for the other of said receiving decksinoperative, and means including a second control member actuated bymaterial at a predetermined position on said conveyor means to rendersaid power control devices inoperative.

'7. In equipment for unloading plasterboard and the like from a multipledeck device, the combination of apparatus comprising a plurality ofreceiving decks adapted to be aligned with the decks of the device to beunloaded and receive material therefrom, conveyor means arranged toreceive material from said receiving decks, electrically energized powermechanisms individually associated with said receiving decks andoperative to remove material from the respective receiving decks to saidconveyor means, circuits to energize the respective power mechanisms,said circuits each including a switch, solenoids to individually actuatesaid switches, means to control the circuits of each of said solenoidcomprising second switches each having an actuating member arranged tobe engaged by material entering the respective decks to complete acircuit for the open the last mentioned switch means.

CLARENCE E. PARKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,809,456 Streeter June 9, 19311,869,210 Moore July 26, 1932 1,903,102 Farley Mar. 28, 1933 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 480,224 Great Britain Feb. 18. 1938

